NHAI reminds govt to expedite land acquisition

The National Highway Authorities of India has urged West bengal government to expedite land acquisition process for expansion of National Highways in the state observing that delay would cause financial loss to the agency.

The National Highway Authorities of India (NHAI) has urged West bengal government to expedite land acquisition process for expansion of National Highways in the state observing that delay would cause financial loss to the agency.

The NHAI has taken up the upgradation work of NH-34,NH-6 and NH-2 in Bengal. Contractors have been selected in some areas while in few other places,the process of engaging contractors is on.

The NHAI has sent a letter to state Land and Land Reforms Commissioner R D Meena stating that failure to hand over land on time to the contractors would cause heavy financial loss in the form of penalty.

Apprehending that problem may crop up in few areas in the state which had witnessed violent clashes over land acquisition in the last few years,the NHAI authorities said that they would offer better compensation package. The Central agency under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has also observed that instead of maintaining uniformity,different methods are being applied by district authorities while preparing compensation estimates.

The letter also states that though the agency had requested the state government to give thrust on land acquisition as well as handing over it to NHAI,the progress in this respect is not satisfactory.

Acquisition and subsequent handing over of possession of the land to NHAI is prime requirement,however the progress on this account,specially submission of 3 (G) estimates and disbursement of compensation remains very slow despite the fact that the urgency has been communicated to the state government time and again, the letter read.